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Frosting, Icing & Fondant

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

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Classic vanilla buttercream frosting is smooth, creamy, and easy to make. Perfect for piping, spreading, and decorating cupcakes, cakes, and cookies with a delicious finish.

Prep:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Yield:
2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Solid Vegetable Shortening (can be substituted for an additional 1/2 cup unsalted butter)
  • 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter (1 stick softened)
  • 4 Cups Sifted Powdered Sugar (confectioners' sugar)
  • 2 Tablespoons Milk, Heavy Cream or Water
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (Pure or Imitation)
  • Pinch of Salt (Optional)

  • Tools

  • Silicone Spatula
  • Electric Mixer (for best results) or Hand Mixer

Instructions

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Notes

How to Store: Frosting should be stored in an airtight container and can be frozen for up to 6 weeks.
    Substitues:
  • Shortening substitute: 1/2 cup butter can be substituted for the 1/2 cup of shortening, although the buttercream will appear more yellow. Keep in mind that fosting with all butter will be softer and more prone to melting if you're piping with warm hands or in a warm room. Including shortening in your recipe is optimal for giving your buttercream structure and stability, while still maintaining its fluffy consistency.
  • Liquid substitute: Water can be used as the liquid ingredient, although the fat from milk and heavy cream make for creamier, more flavorful buttercream.
  • Butter substitute (for pure white buttercream): Substitute out the 1/2 cup of butter for additional white vegetable shortening and opt for clear vanilla flavor extract. To add the butter flavor to the shortening frosting, add 1/2 teaspoon of clear butter flavor.
      • Troubleshooting:
  • Air bubbles: To avoid creating air bubbles, make sure to use the paddle attachment instead of the whisk attachment on your electric stand mixer.
  • Too stiff or too thin: If your frosting is too thin, add small amounts of powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency. If too thick, add small amounts of liquid until the desired consistency is reached.
  • Grainy consistency: Make sure your ingredients are all room temperature to avoid a grainy or gritty consistency.
  • To preserve while in use: Depending on the weather and humidity, your buttercream may start to crust over. To avoid this, cover your frosting bowl with plastic wrap.

    • Once you make this light and fluffy vanilla-flavored buttercream frosting recipe, there will be no going back to store-bought frosting. This is our top-requested recipe and is perfect for frosting cakes, cupcakes, cookies or any other treat begging to be frosted.

    Its creamy consistency is also ideal for piping your favorite decorations. From gathering your ingredients to adding colors and flavors, we’ve gathered our must-know tips and tricks for making, coloring, flavoring and storing your buttercream.

    More Helpful Hints for Making Buttercream Frosting

    • For great frosting every time, make sure you start with room temperature butter. If the butter is too cold, it won’t mix properly with the sugar, resulting in a lumpy frosting that may look curdled or separated.
    • If you’re using a hand mixer, make one batch at a time to keep your mixer from overheating
    • If your hand mixer is working too hard, you can add the liquid ingredients before the sugar
    • To avoid air bubbles from forming, use the flat paddle attachment (on your stand mixer) or beaters (on your hand mixer)
    • Do not use the whisk attachment on your stand mixer, as it will incorporate too much air into your mixture and your frosting will not look smooth
    • Leftover buttercream can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Buttercream can also be frozen for up to six months. Before reusing, bring buttercream back to room temperature and rewhip using a paddle attachment until it’s back to the correct consistency.
    • Depending on the humidity and climate, it may be necessary to adjust the liquid and the sugar in your frosting. If frosting looks dry, add small amounts of liquid (¼ to ½ teaspoon at a time). If frosting is too wet, add 1 tablespoon at a time. The key for both adjustments is adding small amounts until you achieve the right consistency.

    Tips on Buttercream Consistencies

    This buttercream recipe is for medium consistency, which is excellent for piping decorations like rosettes and dots. However, it will need to be thinned for frosting birthday cakes and borders.

    • Stiff Consistency: Gradually add additional powdered sugar for a stiffer consistency that still flows easily through piping tips. Best for dimensional decorations that need to retain their shape when piped. This consistency is generally best for piping upright petals for flowers.
    • Medium Consistency: Add 1 teaspoon of liquid (light corn syrup, milk or water) for each cup of stiff frosting. For pure white frosting, add up to 2 tablespoons of clear liquid. Medium consistency is best for borders such as stars, dots, rosettes and shells, and other decorations that remain relatively flat.
    • Thin Consistency: Add 2 teaspoons of liquid (light corn syrup, milk or water) for each cup of buttercream frosting. For pure white frosting, add up to 4 tablespoons of liquid. Thin consistency is best for cake frosting, as well as piping lines and letters. If you are making a buttercream intended for writing, use light corn syrup as your liquid. Writing will flow easily and won’t break.

    Ways to modify your buttercream

    • When using a hand mixer: Start adding your milk or water a little earlier in the process to avoid exhausting your hand mixer. This should be done if you notice that your hand mixer starts to slow down while mixing the powdered sugar.
    • To cut sweetness: If your buttercream is too sweet, add a pinch of salt to taste. Popcorn salt is a great option to use in buttercream because it’s more granular than other salts. Make sure it dissolves completely once mixed in.
      • You can also add a pinch of salt to your liquid ingredients to ensure the salt gets distributed evenly. Just make sure it completely dissolves before incorporating it.
      • You can also opt for 1/2 cup salted butter rather than 1/2 cup unsalted butter to avoid overly sweet buttercream.
    • To color: Use Icing Colors or Color Right food coloring to tint frosting any color without disturbing the frosting’s consistency.

    How to Store Buttercream

    Buttercream frosting can be made a day or two in advance. Keep it stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before using it. Once it’s at room temperature (should take about an hour), re-whip it to bring it back to a fluffy consistency.

    If you’re making buttercream months in advance (or have leftover frosting), you can freeze it. Place buttercream in an air-tight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then bring it to room temperature before re-whipping again.

    If your buttercream starts to separate or curdle when re-whipping, it’s likely too cold. Let it sit for a while and warm up a little longer, then try again.

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